For Louis Kiss, Success is in the Bag

If “necessity” is the Mother of invention, then “frustration” must be the Father. These are the words of Makeup Effects Artist and Stunt Man Louis Kiss, inventor of the Grab-it Pack®.

Backpacks, fanny packs and the like left Kiss unimpressed. So, he decided to create his own. The result was the Grab-it Pack®. We were contacted by Kiss to give the Grab-it Pack® a test drive, and we readily agreed. ESB’s own President, John Vanover, shares his findings:

At first, I was skeptical when Traci asked me to review the Grab-it Pack®.  I have a couple of nail aprons and small belt pouches, and didn’t see the need for anything else.  I even have a large leather tool belt with a holster for my cordless drill.

To be honest, most of the time I just end up using my pockets. Despite this, I agreed to give it a try. I had a couple of “honey-do” projects on my list for a recent Saturday afternoon, and figured that would be a perfect opportunity to give Grab-it Pack® a try.  The biggest task I had involved working on cable connections in various parts of the attic and basement.

I have to say the Grab-it Pack® exceeded my expectations. I started by loading all of my cable tools and parts in the large pouch.  There was plenty of space for my small flashlight, wire strippers, crimpers and a variety of splices and connectors.  I put a pen in the top zippered pocket just to try it.  Like most of the world, I don’t go anywhere without my cell phone.  I dropped it in the pocket on the front, and I was good to go.

The first trip was to the attic and I immediately saw the advantages of the Grab-it Pack® over my regular nail apron.  I was able to go up the narrow attic stairs with ease.  I was also able to crouch and not have to worry about everything spilling out or screwdrivers stabbing me in the waist.

A trip to the basement and up a ladder yielded similar results. The leg strap really keeps the pack in place going up and down a ladder, a shortfall of a regular tool belt. This pack offers excellent freedom of movement. It was this point that sold me on it above just about everything else.

In the process of all of my splicing, I realized I was a couple of items short of being able to complete the job at hand. This would require a trip to the hardware mega store. It would eventually require two, but I didn’t know that.  The Grab-it Pack® was as comfortable to wear driving as it had been running around the house.  Of course, the unexpected perk was the cell phone pocket on the front. Traci called to ask me pick up lunch while I was out, and I was easily able to access the cell phone pocket and retrieve my phone. Normally, I darn near run off the road trying to get my cell out of my back pocket.

Score another one for the Grab-it Pack®.

Overall, I was highly impressed with the functionality of the Grab-it Pack®. I would imagine any job you need to keep small hand tools at hand would be a perfect fit. Electricians, cable technicians, and general DIY’ers all come to mind as perfect prospects for this item.  I know it would have made my life easier back in college when I was a stock boy.

My mom is an avid crafter, and I think that the Grab-it Pack® would be excellent for her to use at craft shows, or for the occasions when she is teaching a class. The pouches could hold all of the necessities for booth setup, as well as business cards, change, ID, and cell phone. She always hates having to cart her purse around to these shows – and this offers an excellent alternative.

I’m already thinking ahead to summer fishing trips using this pack. I know I’ll be using it for all of my home improvement projects from now on. I’m actually considering getting the left handed version, so I can have double pouches as shown on the website. I would have all of the room of my largest tool belt, and be considerably more comfortable, and have much more freedom of motion.

The Grab-it Pack® retails for $25.00 each. To learn more, or to place an order, visit their website at http://www.grabitpack.com.

Editor’s Note: Originally appeared earlier this year before the new format — we decided to rerun this for the benefit of all of our new readers.

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